March 27, 2024
Out of the Darkness Walk Scheduled for April 26 at La Roche University
PITTSBURGH, March 26, 2024 – La Roche University students will again partner with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to host an Out of the Darkness Walk on Friday, April 26 at noon. This is the fourth year the University has hosted the walk.
The Out of the Darkness Walk is part of a nationwide initiative to raise awareness about the importance of mental health. Onsite registration and pre-walk activities will begin at noon in front of Wright Library at La Roche’s campus in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, followed by the walk at 1 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Register and donate online.
“Our main goal is to raise awareness in our society to make help and support more accessible to everyone,” said La Roche student Maricielo Panduro. “People need to know that they are not alone—that their lives matter, that it’s acceptable to not feel ok, and that it’s acceptable to ask for help when needed. We can fight together for a world without suicide.”
The Out of the Darkness Campus Walks are the AFSP’s signature student fundraising series, designed to engage youth and young adults in the fight to prevent suicide, a leading cause of death. The walks allow AFSP to fund research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, raise awareness and support survivors of suicide loss.
In 2021 La Roche entered a four-year partnership with JED Campus to focus on enhancing and expanding mental health services to the whole campus community. As a signature program of The JED Foundation, JED Campus offers schools customized support to help build upon existing student mental health, substance use and suicide prevention efforts.
AFSP funds research, spreads education, provides support to those affected by suicide and advocates for smart public policy.
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About La Roche University: A private liberal arts university in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers 68 undergraduate programs of study, seven master’s degrees and two doctoral degrees, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, psychology, nursing, and health and medical sciences as well as interior architecture & design and graphic design. This residential university provides a vibrant campus community for women and men enjoying 30-plus student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.